NFL Sunday Ticket: Appeals Court Orders New Damages Trial

A federal appeals court has ordered a new trial to determine the financial damages owed to NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued this ruling on Friday. The decision reverses a lower court judge who had previously tossed a $4.7 billion verdict against the league. The court found that the district judge erred in rejecting the jury's finding that the NFL violated antitrust laws.

The case dates back to 2015, when a class-action lawsuit was filed. The suit represents more than 2.4 million residential subscribers and over 48,000 commercial establishments such as restaurants and bars. These groups purchased the Sunday Ticket package when it was distributed by DirecTV. Subscribers argued they were overcharged for the service.

In June 2024, a federal jury in Los Angeles found that the NFL conspired with DirecTV and network partners to raise prices. The jury awarded $4.7 billion in damages. However, Judge Philip Gutierrez of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California vacated the award. He stated that the verdict was not supported by evidence and relied on guesswork or speculation.

Gutierrez ruled that testimony from expert witness Daniel Rascher was inadmissible. Rascher speculated about what individual NFL teams could earn if they sold rights to out-of-market games separately. The appeals court disagreed with this exclusion. The panel stated that the jury should have been allowed to consider Rascher's testimony. The ruling noted that the jury awarded damages based on an improper consideration of the evidence rather than following the district court's instructions.

An NFL spokesperson expressed disappointment in a statement regarding the latest development. The spokesperson noted that the case has been ongoing for over 11 years. The league maintains that its media distribution strategy is the most fan-friendly in sports and entertainment. This strategy features 100% of NFL games on free over-the-air television in local markets and national distribution of popular games. The spokesperson added that the league is considering options for seeking further appellate review.

DirecTV served as the distribution partner for Sunday Ticket from 1994 until the 2023-24 NFL season. Google then secured a seven-year deal with the NFL to sell the package via YouTube. The current Sunday Ticket package includes all out-of-market Sunday regular-season games broadcast on Fox and CBS. During the trial, it emerged that Disney's ESPN had offered to acquire the rights for the 2023-24 season. ESPN proposed a price of $70 per season for single-team access, but the league did not agree to that plan.

For the 2026 season, pricing varies by subscriber type. New subscribers with a YouTube TV plan pay $240. Returning customers on that plan pay $378. For those using NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube without the YouTube TV plan, new customers pay $240 and returning subscribers pay $480.

The case now returns to district court. The primary task for the new trial will be to determine the correct financial penalties. The appeals court confirmed that consumers are entitled to a new trial specifically on damages.